Machine for making roof-valleys



Patented Dec. 27, 1898.

5 Sheets-Sheet l.

C. A. STURTEVANT.

(Application filed July 9, 1898.)

E 9% E? ii No. 6l6,642.

MACHINE FURIAKING ROOF VALLEYS.

(No Model.)

No. 6l6,642.

Patented Dec. 27, I898.

C. A. STUBTEVANT.

MACHINE FOR MAKING ROOF VALLEYS.

(Applicatiun fllad July 9, 1898.)

(In lo dal.)

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m: NORRIS PETERS cc, PHOTO-LlYHO-. vusmwcmn. u. c.

8 9 mm 7 2 0 B D d B t n a. t a P N A v E T R U T S Q 2 4 m 6 0 NMACHINE FOR MAKING ROOF VALLEYS.

(Application filed July 9, 1898.)

5' Shaets-Shaet 3.

(liq Model.)

IIIIIIIII I No. 616,642. Patented D80. 27, I898. C. A. STURTEVANT.MACHINE FOR MAKING ROOF VALLEYS.

(Application filed July 9, 1898) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

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WIHHHHIII HH I II Patented Dec. 27, [898.

C. A. STURTEVANT.

MACHINE FOR MAKlNG ROOF VALLEYS.

(Application filed July 9, 1898.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

(No Model.)

"NTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. STURTEVANT, OF PLAINFIELD, NE\V JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR MAKING ROOF-VALLEYS.

SPECIFICATION forming" part of Letters Patent No. 616,642, datedDecember 27, 1898.

Application filed July 9,1898. Serial No. 685,496. (No model.)

To all u'hzmt it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. STUETE- \ANT, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Plainfield, in the county of Union and Stateof New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machinesfor Making Roof-Valleys, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in machines for makingroof-valleys, the object being to provide a machine by means of whichthe strips of sheet metal of which the roofvalleys are to be made may becontinuously fed into the machine in the form of blanks and dischargedtherefrom in completed form.

A further object is to provide a machine of the above character in whichthe several operations required to form the roof-valleys may be madeexpeditiously and rapidly.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a side View of themachine. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal vertical central sectionthrough the same. Fig. 3 is a rear end viewv of the machine. Fig. 4 is afront end view of the same. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section inthe plane of the line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a detail transversevertical section through the die and die-operating shaft to show clearlythe cam for operating the side plates of the die. Fig. 7 is a horizontallongitudinal section in the plane of the line '7 7 of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 isan inverted plan view of the die. Figs. 9, 9 10, 11, and 12 are detailviews illustrating the connections between the main operating-shaft, thedie-operating shaft, and the chain-operating shaft, whereby the last twonamed shafts are alternately operated during the continuous rotarymovement of the main shaft. Fig. 13 is an enlarged transverse verticalsection through the several parts which operate upon the blank forbending it into the required shape, the said parts being shown in theposition which they assume after the blank has been fed into positionwithin the machine. Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 13 with certain ofthe parts removed, the parts which are shown therein being representedin the positions which they assume when the first bend in the blank hasbeen completed. Fig.

15 is a similar view showing the positions which the parts assume afterthe second bend has been made. Fig. 16 is a similar view showing thepositions which the parts assume after the third bend has beenaccomplished. Fig. 17 shows the parts in the positions which they assumepreparatory to completing the folds along the edges of the blank. Fig.18 shows the positions which the parts assume when the said folds arecompleted, and Fig. 19 represents cross-sections of the blank after eachof the successive operations has been performed.

The frame proper of the machine is composed of end uprights A A,connected at their upper ends by means of a longitudinal girder A".

The drive-shaft B of the machine is mounted in suitable hearings in theend upright A,

and it is provided with a pulley b, which may be engaged by a suitabledriving-belt. (Not shown.) This shaft B is further provided with abevel-gear I), which intermeshes with a bevel-gear c on the upper end ofa connecting-shaft c, mounted on the end upright A, the lower end of thesaid shaft 0 being provided with a bevel-gear 0 which intermeshes with abevel-gear 0 carried by the main operating-shaft C, which is mounted insuitable hearings in the end uprights A A. This drive-shaft Bis alsoprovided with a spur-gear b, which intermeshes with a spur-wheel d,arranged on the die-operating shaft D, so as to be alternately locked toand released therefrom, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

The main bar of the vertically reciprocating die is denoted by E, whichbar extends longitudinally of the machine, and it is provided at itsends with hinged guide-blocks ce,which slide in vertical ways or tracks6 e carried by the end uprights A A. A pair of laterally-movable bottomplates 2' e are located along the bottom of the bar E, the said bottomplates being L shape in cross-section and having their outer edgesbeveled, as shown. These plates are mounted to reciprocate verticallywith the bar E by means of suitable tie-bolts c, the elongated heads 6of which are adaptedto engage corresponding semicylindrical recesses e ein the said bottom plates. These heads 6 of the bolts 6 serve to forcethe said bottom plates apart when the bolts are turned in one directionand permit the plates to be forced together when the bolts are turned inthe opposite direction. The means which I have shown for rocking thesebolts com prise arms e extending laterally from the upper ends of thebolts 6 the free ends of the said arms being connected to a longitudinalbar 6 This bar 6 may be provided with a retracting-spring e extendingbetween its forward end and the upright A, tending to draw the bar inthat direction, and its other end is connected to the free end of thelong arm 6 of a rocking lever mounted on the upright A, the short arm aof which is adapted to be engaged by a cam f on the vertical shaft F, tobe hereinafter described.

The set-bar E and bottom plates 6 e are raised and lowered by means offace-cams d on the die-operating shaft D, which cams are provided withgrooves (Z for the reception of rollers 6 carried by yoke-pieces euprising from the bar E. The upper ends of these yoke-pieces e are ofloop form, as shown, and embrace the shaft D, serving to guide the diein its upward and downward movements.

The Vertically-reciprocating die is further provided with a pair ofindependent vertically-movable side plates 6 6 which are located alongthe opposite sides of the bar E and have their bottom edges beveled, asshown. The tops of these side plates are spaced apart by suitablebridges e, which are provided with cam-rollers e ,\vhich are adapted tobe engaged by cams (Z on the die-operating shaft D.

Sets of expansion-springs e are inserted between the bridges e and thebar E, normally forcing the side plates and bottom plates away from eachother.

The vertical shaft F, hereinbefore referred to, is mounted in suitablebearings on the end upright A at the rear of the machine, and the shaftis geared to the die-operating shaft D, as shown at f d whereby the saidshaft F is rotated.

A bed-plate or table G extends the length of the machine and its endsrest upon suitable adjusting-screws g g, carried by the uprights A A,whereby the said, table may be accurately adjusted with respect to thedie. The table G is provided with a longitudinal raised portion gbetween which and the bottom plates of the die the blank which is toform the valley is inserted.

A pair of laterally-movable jaws H H are mounted on the top of the tableG along the opposite sides of the raised portion g which jaws areprovided with beveled inner edges, as shown. These jaws are ofsubstantially the length of the die. The jaw H is provided with a pairof shanks h, and the jaw H is similarly provided with a pair of shanksh. These shanks extend through elongated slots in the table G and areprovided underneath the table with ears, to which are attached the freeends of the upper arms 2' i of pairs of levers Z Z, which levers arefulcrumed on rods 2' i supported by suitable brackets 3', carried by thejaw-operating shaft K.

The free ends of the lower arms 2' of the levers Z Z are provided withbars '5 2' upon which the arms of a toggle-lever 2' are mounted. Aroller 2' is carried by the toggle lever i in position to be engaged bya cam 7t, mounted on the shaft K. This shaft K is supported uponopposite sides of the cam 7:, by suitable hangers J, dependent from thebed-plate or table G. This shaft K also has a bearing in the upright A,and it is geared to the vertical shaft F, as shown at 7s f whereby therotation of the shaft K is dependent upon the rotation of the die-shaftD. The jaws H H are held normally at the limits of their outwardmovement away from each other, and the roller 1' is also held inengagement with the periphery of the cam by means of retractionsprings Z1', extending between the toggle-lever i and the table G.

The means for feeding the blank strips into the machine are as follows:An auxiliary table L projects from the front of the upright A of themachine, the front end of the said table being supported by a suitableframe Z. This auxiliary table L forms a continuation of the bed-plate ortable G of the machine. An endless carrier, shown in the presentinstance as a chain Z, passes around a sprocket Z carried by adrive-shaft Z mounted in suitable bearings in the table G a shortdistance to the rear of the front upright A. This sprocket-chain Z alsopasses around idler-pulleys Z Z, carried by the frame Z. The pulley Z isso situated that the chain Z runs along within a groove Z in the frontend of the table G and throughout the length of the table L between thesaid idler-pulley Z and the sprocket-wheel Z This chain is provided withprojections Z spaced apart a sufficient distance to permit the insertionof a length of blank equal to the length of the shapingdie.

A suitable slit or opening a is formed in the front upright A, throughwhich the blank is fed into the machine.

The sprocket-wheel shaft Z is provided with a bevel-gear Z whichintermeshes witha gear 0 carried by the operating-shaft O and arrangedto be intermittently driven and released by the said shaft.

The means which I employ for delivering the sheet from the machine andimparting its longitudinal central bend is as follows: The rear end ofthe operating-shaft O is provided with a bevel-gear 0 which intermesheswith a bevel-gear c on the lower end of a short connectingshaft 0 theupper end of the said shaft being provided with a bevel gear cintermeshing with a bevel-gear 172, carried by a shaping-roller shaft M,which is mounted in suitable hearings on the rear upright A. This shaftM is provided with a shaping-roller m, having a convex angularperiphery. Beneath this roller is mounted a corresponding roller artwhich is provided with a concave angular periphery correspon ding to theconvex angular periphery of the roller on. These two rollers are adaptedto receive the metallic sheet between them and impart to the saidsheetits longitudinal cen tral bend.

. To the rear of the shaft M, I mount a second shaft N in suitablebearings at the ends of the bracket-arms 92, projecting from thebearings of the shaft M.

A roller n is mounted directly to the rear of the roller m and in linetherewith. This roller is similarly provided with a convex angularperiphery. Beneath this roller n, I mount a pair of rollers n n onsuitable inclined axle-studs n n, so that the said rollers n ncorrespond to the two angular faces of the periphery of the roller n.These rollers are adapted to receive the metallic sheet from the rollersm m and permanently set the bend which the said last-named rollers haveimparted to the sheet. The roller n is driven positively in the samedirection as the roller m by means of a sprocket-chain connection abetween the shafts M and N.

The means which I employ for causing the dieoperating shaft to rest idlywhile the endless carrier is operated for feeding the blank intothemachine and for causing the carrier to rest idly while the die-operatingshaft is operated for performing the several operations upon the blankis as follows: A stubshaft 0 is mounted in suitable bearings upon thefront upright A, and it is provided at its front end with a spur-gear 0,which intermeshes with a spur-pinion 0 mounted to rotate with theoperating-shaft 0, whereby the said shaft 0 is continuously rotated. Thegear between the drive-shaft B and the dieoperating shaft D and thegearing connection between the drive-shaft, the operatingshaft, andstub-shaft, is such that the stub-shaft will rotate once to tworotations of the said die-opcrating shaft D. This shaft 0 is providedwith a cam 0, the periphery of which is adapted to engage a stud 1),carried by a tripping-bar P. This tripping-bar P is guided in itsreciprocating movements by bifurcating its lower end, as shown, andhaving its upper end confined in a suitable bearing 1), carried by theupright A. The upper end of this bar P is provided with a stud 19 whichis adapted to be moved into and out of the path of a spring-actuatedrocking dog p projecting from a locking-pin p which serves to lock andrelease the gearwheel (Z and die-operating shaft D. The pin p is mountedin a socket in the face of the inner hub-flange of the gear-wheel (Z,and its projecting end, from which the dog 13 proects, is cut away toform an eccentric, as clearly shown in Figs. 9 and 9. The shaft D has asleeve d keyed thereto, which sleeve has a notch cZ- in its peripheryarranged to receive the eccentric portion of the pin p therein forlocking the gear-wheel to the shaft.

This rocking dog 19* is so arranged that when the tripping-bar P is inits lowered position the gear-wheel (Z and the shaft will be locked bythe pin p so as to rotate together. When the bar P is in its raisedposition, the rocking dog will be engaged by the stud p as the gearwheeld is rotated, thereby causing the dog to be rocked sufficiently to freethe eccentric portion of the pin p from the notch d thereby releasingthe gear-wheel (Z from the sleeve (1*, carried by the shaft D, so thatthe gear-wheel d will rotate around the shaft while the shaft remainsstationary. The geared relation between these two shafts above referredto is such that the shaft D is rotated one revolution while the shaft 0is rotating one half of a revolution, and the shaft D is then held idlywhile the shaft 0 is rotating its second half of its revolution. Thestub-shaft O is further provided with a cam 0 the periphery of whichengages a stud upon one arm q of a rocking lever Q,the axle q of whichis mounted in a suitable bearing carried bythe front upright A. Theother arm g of this lever Q is secured to the rear end of the axle g,which arm is in position to release the bevel-gear 0 which meshes withthe carrier drive-shaft pinion Z whereby the carrier and driving-shaftare alternately driven and permitted to stop during the constantrotation of the operatingshaft 0. The slip connection between thebevel-gear c and the shaft 0 is of the usual form and is shown quiteclearly in Fig. 12. The device therein shown comprises a springactuatedbolt 0 projecting from a fixed sleeve on the sh aft 0 normally intoengagement with the gear 0 and having a beveled end which is adapted tobe engaged by the arm g and thereby released from the said gear. The camo is of such shape that the endless carrier is driven for feeding theblank into the machine during the second half of the rotation of theshaft 0, at which time the die-operating shaft D is at rest. The gearedconnection between the shaft 0 and the carrierdriving shaft i is suchthat the said shaft Z is driven a sufficient distance to feed a blankfrom the exterior of the machine into a position beneath the die. Thenext operation of the shaft after the die has operated upon the .blankwill serve to feed the advance end of the blank which was operated uponinto engagement with the rolls m 011 where it will be rapidly drawn fromthe machine and at the same time feed the next succeeding blank into themachine.

The operation of the machine is as follows: Supposing that a blank hasbeen fed into the machine beneath the die, the carrier driveshaft hasbeen disconnected from the operating-shaft C,and the die-operating shaftD connected therewith, the first portion of the rotation of the shaft Dwill bring the die down onto the blank and press it against the raisedportion 9 of the table G, making the first bend, as shown in Fig. 14:.The jaws H II will then be caused to approach each other, making thesecond bend. (Shown in Fig. 15.) The side plates a 6 are then broughtdown to complete the second bend, as shown in Fig. 16, and the bottomplates 0 e are then raised, this movement serving to draw the saidbottom plates together, as shown. The die is then raised and the jawsmoved outwardly into the position shown in Fig. 17. The die is thenbrought down, and completes the fold, as shown in Fig. 18. After the diehas been brought back into the position shown in Fig. 13 thedie-operating shaft is disconnected from the drive-shaft and the carrierdrivingshaft is connected therewith. The rotary movement of the carrierdriving-shaft will then cause the carrier to feed the blank which hasbeen operated upon to the mechanism for making the central longitudinalbend and at the same time feed a second blank into position beneath thedie. The bending mechanism and the rollers for setting the bend willrapidly draw the completed blank out of the machine.

By adjusting the several parts the folds made along the sides of theblank may be made deeper or shallower, as may be desired, and byadjusting the rollers at the rear of the machine the blank may be bentto any desired angle.

The machine as above described is adapted to feed the blanks, bend them,and deliver the completed valleys very rapidly and at the same timeinsure the perfect formation of the bends, which has heretofore been avery difficult operation. The timing of the several operations is suchthat the machine is practically automatic, the only manual laborrequired being the laying of the blanks onto the carrier at the properpoints.

It is evident that slight changes might be resorted to in the form andarrangement of the several parts Without departing from the spirit andscope of my invention. Hence I do not wish to limit myself strictly tothe structure herein set forth.

\Vhat I claim is 1. A machine for making roof-valleys from strips ofmetal comprising mechanism for forming longitudinal side folds in astrip while it is held stationary, mechanism for forming a longitudinalcentral bend in the strip and discharging it from the machine, astrip-carrier and means for causing the carrier to first feed the stripto the fold-forming mechanism and then to the bend-forming mechanism,substantially as set forth.

2. A machine for making roof-valleys from strips of metal comprisingmechanism for forming longitudinal side folds in a strip while the stripis held stationary, rolls for forming a longitudinal bend in the strip,a strip-carrier for first feeding the strip to the fold-formingmechanism and then to the bendforming rolls, and rolls for setting thebend in the strip arranged to receive the strip from the bend-formingrolls, substantially as set forth.

3. In a machine for making roof-valleys from strips of metal, mechanismfor forming longitudinal folds along the strips comprising avertically-reciprocating die having a pair of laterally-movable bottomplates, a pair of independently vertically movable side plates, atbed-plate or table and a pair of laterallymovable jaws and means foroperating the several parts, substantially as set forth.

a. In a machine for making roof-valleys from strips of metal, abed-plate or table, a pair of laterally-movable jaws mounted thereon, adie comprising bottom plates and side plates and die and jaw operatingshafts having cams arranged to impart successive movements to the saiddie and jaws for forming longitudinal folds in the strip of metal,substantially as set forth.

5. A die comprising laterally-movable bottom plates andvertically-movable side plates and means for holding the bottom platesand side plates in different assembled adjustments, substantially as setforth.

6. Adie comprising laterallyand vertically movable bottom plates,vertically-movable side plates and means for holding the bottom platesand side plates in different assembled adjustments, substantially as setforth.

7. A die comprising a pair of laterally and vertically movable bottomplates, a pair of side plates arranged to force the bottom platesinwardly when the bottom plates are moved in one direction and means forpositively forc in g the bottom plates outwardly when the bottom platesare moved in the opposite direction, substantially as set forth.

8. In a machine for making roof-valleys, a drive-shaft, a mainoperating-shaft geared permanently thereto, a die-operating shaft gearedto the drive-shaft,- a feed-carrier shaft geared to the mainoperating-shaft and means for alternately connecting and disconnectingthe die-operating shaft and feed-carrier shaft, substantially as setforth.

9. In a machine for making roof-valleys, a drive-shaft, a mainoperating-shaft geared permanently thereto, a stubshaft having camsthereon, and geared permanently to the operating-shaft, a die-operatingshaft geared to the drive-shaft, a feed-carrier shaft geared to the mainoperating-shaft and mechanism underthe control of the said cams on thestubshaft for alternately connecting and disconnecting the die'operatingshaft and feed-carrier shaft, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname, in presence of two witnesses, this 1st day of July, 1898.

CHARLES A. STURTEVANT.

, \Vitnesses:

FREDK. HAYNES, O. S. SUNDGREN.

IIO

